Friday, July 18, 2008

Happy Birthday

There are not many politicians whose behavior could be held up for emulation unless it was for ‘political acumen,’ a euphemism for slippery maneuvering, ruthlessness and knowing how to use people. An exception to this would have to be Nelson Mandela. He emerged from 29 years of harsh inceraration without any rancor or bitterness. He has constantly spoken up for reconciliation and forgiveness as the best way to heal the ugly wounds of apartheid and his words come across as completely sincere. A few years ago he went out of his way meet the wife of one of his former tormentor, Mrs. Botha. He held out his hand to her, she refused to take it, and yet throughout the proceeding conversation he remained his usual polite smiling self. We need more people who survive injustice without turning their victimhood into a means of self-promotion or who insist that they can only get ‘closure’ by extracting an apology from their oppressors. The Buddha said;

He who, though innocent, patiently bearsabuse, flogging and imprisonment,with endurance as his only strength;him I call a true brahman.Dhp.399

Nelson Mandela is 90 today. I wish him a Happy Birthday and hope that he has many more.

2 comments:

29 Years of harsh imprisonment would bring a lot of people to plenty of bitterness. It's a marvel that he doesn't appear to have any at all. It goes to show that there are politicians and people out there who tend to be exceptional in the way they weather the worst storms life has to offer. Mr. Mandela seems to be one of them.

About Me

I am not the 5th or 9th reincarnation of a great lama, I have not recived any empowerments or initiations, I am not the holder of any lineage, I am yet to attain any of the jhanas, I am not a widely respected teacher, I am not a stream enterer (at least I don't feel like one)and I do not have many disciples. Nontheless, you may find some of my observations and musings interesting. I have been a Buddhist monk for 32 years and am the spiritual advisor to the Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society in Singapore.